CHANGE is in the wind for Emporia, but just what that change might be is not clear.
Candidate statements and opinions expressed by Gazette readers in their letters to the editor show that the idea of change has taken hold this year. Nobody seems interested in continuing city business as usual.
That is not surprising, considering that the city began last year with a fiscal crisis and has taken a number of hard economic blows, the latest being the pet food recall that resulted in the temporary shutdown of Menu Foods Midwest. People are worried about taxes, job security and city growth.
By setting budget priorities and spending carefully, the Emporia City Commission can affect tax bills. But what the commissioners can do about those last two worries is not so clear.
Certainly, the commissioners can influence the amount and use of development money to attract new businesses and help old businesses grow, but they cannot force new businesses to move to Emporia or old businesses to hire more workers.
Commissioners can create policies that encourage community growth, but they cannot make people move into town.
The economic health of the city is affected by events and decisions made far beyond the city limits. No city action could have raised the aftermarket sales of automotive radiators, prevented the sale of Modine Manufacturing or changed the new owner’s mind about moving production to Mexico. That was also true of Lenze Power Transmission’s decision to consolidate its operations and close the Emporia plant.
Business is a gamble. The best a city can is do is try to bet wisely and hope that the dice bounce right.
Whatever decisions Emporia voters make at the polls on Tuesday, there will be changes in city government.
Change has already begun with the hiring of a new city manager and will continue with the election Tuesday of one to three new city commissioners.
But no one knows what those changes will be or what they will mean. Each of the successful candidates will find his intentions and hopes subject to the agreement of four other commissioners. The changes that come will be a result of collaboration and compromise.
The voters’ job in this process is not to elect one person who is expected to solve every problem, but to adjust the mix — to vote for those candidates who bring needed qualities and experience to the commission.
What qualities do you think the commission needs?
Editor’s Note: To help our readers compare the candidates for Emporia City Commission and the school boards of Lyon County, the candidate responses that have been published in The Gazette this week will be re-published in a special section of Monday’s newspaper. The responses are also available on the Internet at www.emporia.com/election.